Toyota have offered Kimi Raikkonen a deal for next season, but the 2007 Formula One champion’s management wants more, said John Howett, the team’s motorsport president.
“We don’t play too many games. We put on the table what we can afford and what we think is a serious offer in the current market,” Howett told reporters after Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Raikkonen will be replaced at Ferrari by double world champion Fernando Alonso at the end of the season and has yet to decide what to do next, although a return to his former employers McLaren appears his most likely option.
The party-loving Finn has said he wants to be in a competitive car, and Toyota have yet to win a race since they entered the sport in 2002.
Poland’s Robert Kubica was another target for Toyota until he signed with Renault. The Japanese team, whose future in the sport remains subject to considerable paddock speculation, currently have Italian Jarno Trulli and Germany’s Timo Glock under contract.
Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi made his race debut for Toyota at Interlagos, standing in for the injured Glock and making a strong impression when he ran as high as third place while fending off championship winner Jenson Button for several laps.
“I thought he defended well, he re-took Jenson,” Howett said. “He’s fearless and did a good job to get past Fisichella. He was a bit off the pace overall but it was very impressive.”
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